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Great Backyard Bird Count

Each February, the world joins in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) to report bird observations, in order to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world!

This year’s GBBC is February 13-16 (Friday – Monday). To participate, spend at least 15 minutes watching birds during the 4 days of the GBBC and report your birds using Merlin (mobile app) or eBird (mobile app or website).

There is no need to sign up. If you already report birds using Merlin or eBird, just keep doing what you’re doing; any birds reported over these 4 days count toward GBBC.

The GBBC website has full details on the count and how to participate.

Pop-up Event

Guided Birding Hike

Saturday, 2/14/26
11-12 AM

Swiss Valley Nature Center
13606 Swiss Valley Road
Peosta, IA 52068
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As part of the Great Backyard Bird Count, Ken Kiss and Mary Leigh will lead a birding hike at Swiss Valley, departing from the Nature Center. All levels of experience are welcome! Binoculars are recommended.

If you’d like to start tracking the birds you see with Merlin or eBird but aren’t sure how, see below to sign up for the instructional opportunity either immediately before this hike or on Friday morning.

Pop-up Education

Want more help with Merlin or eBird?

For in-person instruction on the Merlin or eBird apps (and an explanation of the difference), Mary Leigh could be available at 10 AM on Friday and/or Saturday morning at Swiss Valley Nature Center, but she’ll only be there each morning if at least one person signs up for that morning!

Participants would need to bring a smartphone in order to use either of the apps. We’ll include some birdwatching at the feeders while trying out the mobile apps.

To sign up for either morning, please fill out our Contact Us form by 5 PM the day before, and include whether you’re signing up for Friday or Saturday morning in your message.

Swiss Valley Nature Center
13606 Swiss Valley Road
Peosta, IA 52068
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Note: eBird has a website in addition to a mobile app. Mary will bring a laptop to show that option as well depending on interest, but we will plan to focus on the mobile apps.

If you sign up for Saturday education, you might like to stay for the guided hike that follows. (No signup is necessary for the hike.)

Dubuque Audubon February Program

What’s New at Green Island and Other Local Wildlife Management Areas

Thursday, 2/12/26
6:45 PM Social Time
7 – 8 PM Program

EB Lyons Interpretive Center
8991 Bellevue Heights Road
Dubuque, IA 52003
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Our speaker will be Nick McClimon, who is the Iowa DNR Wildlife Management Biologist for our district. His program will feature an update on Green Island and other DNR wildlife management areas near us.

Hosts: Clinton County Conservation, Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge, and Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge
42nd Annual Bald Eagle Watch 1/31/26
Eagle Watching @ Lock #13, Fulton, IL
Exhibits and Educational Programs @ Clinton Community College, Clinton, IA
Facebook Event Listing

Dubuque Audubon January Program

Let’s Talk About the River
A Community Meeting with Big River Magazine and the Dubuque Audubon Society

Thursday, 1/8/26
6:45 PM Social Time
7 – 8 PM Program

EB Lyons Interpretive Center
8991 Bellevue Heights Road
Dubuque, IA 52003
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Our speaker will be Reggie McLeod, editor and publisher of Big River Magazine. He will be joined by several other members of the Big River crew to talk about the river, river issues, and the future of the magazine. We hope that you will share your river stories and concerns, as well as feedback regarding Big River Magazine.

There will be door prizes, snacks, and maybe a story or two. Perhaps you’ll bring a story to tell.

Since 1980 Reggie McLeod as written about the Upper Mississippi River for countless publications, including USA Today, The Chicago Tribune and the Milwaukee Journal. He has served as editor and publisher of Big River Magazine since the first issue, in January 1993. He has lived on or near the river since the mid 1970s and frequently fishes and explores the channels and backwaters from his solo canoe.

Big River Magazine covers more than 400 miles of the Mississippi River and the river communities from the Twin Cities to the Quad Cities. To the best of our knowledge, Big River is the only independent magazine about a river in the world.